Packers post-draft depth chart: Where do the additions fit in revamped offense?

The Packers added 13 new players over the seven rounds of this year’s draft and will welcome more by signing undrafted free agents as the organization makes its youthful transition from the Aaron Rodgers era. Gone are veterans such as Rodgers, Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis, Randall Cobb and Robert Tonyan, replaced by newcomers like 22-year-old tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, along with 23-year-old receiver Jayden Reed.

Green Bay will hold its rookie minicamp this weekend, the first chance we’ll get to see the Packers’ massive draft class in action across the street from Lambeau Field.

“I haven’t been a part of a draft where we’ve acquired 13 new players,” head coach Matt LaFleur said on Saturday. “Big-time credit to Gutey (Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst) and his staff. Ready to get to work with these guys.”

While Green Bay’s depth chart on defense won’t change much for the 2023 season, the offensive side of the ball will look vastly different. Here’s an updated projection for the pecking orders at each position group, featuring every player currently on the roster and the 13 unsigned draft picks (no reported undrafted free-agent signings included) with the biggest question at each position group.

Offense

Quarterback: Jordan Love, Sean Clifford (rookie), Danny Etling

The biggest question: Will Clifford actually be Love’s backup?

The biggest surprise of the Packers’ draft came when they took the former Penn State quarterback in the fifth round. Clifford was Dane Brugler’s No. 20 quarterback in the class, but he was the 11th one taken. He spent six years at Penn State, and though he beat out Will Levis for the starting job there multiple times, he left plenty to be desired on his tape in terms of decision-making and accuracy, according to Brugler. However, the Packers have only one other quarterback under contract besides Love in Etling, who hasn’t played in a regular-season game in five years in the league. The Packers can still sign a veteran backup, but Mason Rudolph might be the best (and most realistic) option. That’s not exactly enticing.

“We’ll kind of see how that goes, but we really like what he brings to the table,” Gutekunst said about drafting Clifford and the potential of still signing a veteran. “Obviously, he started a lot of games in the Big Ten, has a lot of experience, really good athlete, liked his arm talent and we brought him in for a pre-draft visit and just really liked the makeup of the person.

“I think we’ll probably see how these guys do before we think about bringing in a veteran right away.”

GO DEEPER

Packers draft Sean Clifford: Penn State QB becomes Green Bay's first surprise pick

Running back: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Patrick Taylor, Lew Nichols III (rookie), Tyler Goodson

The biggest question: Who will win the No. 3 running back job?

It’s not the juiciest camp storyline with the first two spots here set in stone, but the addition of Nichols out of Central Michigan in the seventh round makes it a three-man race for what might be the final 53-man roster spot for this group (only Jones and Dillon made the initial 53 out of training camp last season). Taylor is an efficient runner and sturdy pass blocker — his block on that insane Rodgers-to-Lewis bomb against the Dolphins last year allowed the play to happen — while Nichols led the FBS in rushing yards two years ago.

Breaking down the Packers' 13-player 2023 draft class — best pick, biggest surprise, biggest question mark, biggest takeaway and more: https://t.co/7rtBgZ9oCB

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) April 30, 2023

Wide receiver: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed (rookie), Samori Toure, Dontayvion Wicks (rookie), Bo Melton, Grant DuBose (rookie), Jeff Cotton

The biggest question: Who will establish themselves as the WR3 behind Watson and Doubs?

Reed was my favorite pick in the Packers’ draft. He has good hands, lightning-quick speed and can play in the slot or on the perimeter. Toure made that nice mid-route adjustment on his long touchdown catch against the Bills on Sunday Night Football last season but played only 16 percent of the offensive snaps as a rookie. Wicks, Green Bay’s fifth-round pick, had 1,203 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2021 before a dip in production last season (perhaps due to injuries).

“I think he’s a super talented receiver,” LaFleur said of Reed. “Certainly has a lot of the characteristics we look for. First of all, he’s fast. He can make contested catches. He’s got the return ability, which is huge. I think he’s got a lot of versatility in terms of being able to go outside or inside and, more than anything else, I love how he competes. I think he’s got a dog mentality.”

Tight end: Luke Musgrave (rookie), Tucker Kraft (rookie), Josiah Deguara, Tyler Davis, Austin Allen, Nick Guggemos

The biggest question: Will either draft pick emerge as the starter?

To really make this offense click under Love, it wouldn’t hurt the Packers to have a true downfield threat at tight end. They haven’t consistently had one since Jermichael Finley over a decade ago, but now have two high-upside pass catchers in Musgrave and Kraft, both 22 years old. Both dealt with significant injuries and didn’t produce a ton last season, but that didn’t stop the Packers from using two of their first four picks on the same position.

“They are similar. They’re both all-around tight ends that can kind of do everything,” Gutekunst said. “They’re not pigeonholed into only being able to be a receiving tight end or a blocking tight end. They can do it all. They both have very good size, very good speed, so I’m excited. I do think most of their best football is ahead of them for different reasons, but I think they will complement each other and they’ll be a good fit for our room that we already have.”

Brian Gutekunst says they’ve had preliminary discussions about Jordan Love’s fifth-year option, but Packers haven’t yet exercised it. Deadline to do so is Tuesday.

“It’s a lot of money for a guy who hasn’t played, but at the same time we’re moving forward with him.” pic.twitter.com/aGictkHOnK

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) April 29, 2023

Offensive line: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan Jr., Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom, Royce Newman, Caleb Jones, Jake Hanson, Sean Rhyan, Luke Tenuta, Rasheed Walker, Jean Delance

The biggest question: Who will start at center and right tackle?

Bakhtiari, Jenkins and Runyan seem locked into their starting spots at left tackle, left guard and right guard, respectively. To get their best five offensive linemen on the field — that’s one of LaFleur’s favorite phrases — Tom might need to be in the starting lineup. That could be at center or right tackle, depending on whether the Packers want Myers or Nijman on the field, too.

Defense

Interior defensive line: Kenny Clark, T.J. Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden (rookie), Karl Brooks (rookie), Jonathan Ford, Chris Slayton

The biggest question: Will the real Devonte Wyatt please stand up?

Wyatt didn’t get much of a shot last season to show why the Packers took him No. 28 overall in the 2022 draft. He played only 23 percent of the defensive snaps with three pressures, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble. With Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed in the mix, Wyatt should get every chance to show what he’s really made of.

Edge rusher: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness (rookie), Justin Hollins, Jonathan Garvin, La’Darius Hamilton

The biggest question: Will Gary be ready for Week 1?

That’s an answer nobody knows yet. Gutekunst’s progress report on the star edge rusher was quite positive at the combine in February. The Packers still needed to draft an edge rusher even if Gary hadn’t torn his ACL last season to bolster the depth behind him, but the first-rounder Van Ness might be thrown into a starting role right away if Gary isn’t back by the start of the season.

Inside linebacker: De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson

The biggest question: Will we see the 2021 Campbell or the 2022 Campbell?

Campbell was a first-team All-Pro two years ago. Last year, not so much, though he got better as the season progressed despite battling a knee injury that sidelined him a month. Having that All-Pro version back to go along with the second-year Walker — if he can avoid ejections — could be scary for opposing offenses.

Cornerback: Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Eric Stokes, Shemar Jean-Charles, Corey Ballentine, Kiondre Thomas, Carrington Valentine (rookie), Benjie Franklin, Tyrell Ford

The biggest question: What’s going on with Stokes?

The 2021 first-round pick was really good as a rookie. Then he was really bad before suffering a season-ending ankle/knee injury in Week 9 last season. LaFleur said in March that Douglas will start on the outside (along with Alexander) and Nixon will get the first crack at the slot. Where does that leave Stokes, and will he be ready for OTAs?

Safety: Darnell Savage Jr., Rudy Ford, Tarvarius Moore, Innis Gaines, Tariq Carpenter, Dallin Leavitt, Anthony Johnson Jr. (rookie), James Wiggins

The biggest question: Will the Packers re-sign Adrian Amos?

Amos has started every game for the Packers since 2019. He’s not flashy, but he gets the job done and he’s certainly better than Savage and Ford. The Packers’ only options to upgrade at safety before the season might be bringing back Amos, who turned 30 on Saturday, or trading for the Cardinals’ Budda Baker. The latter isn’t happening, so Gutekunst might want to circle back with Amos, whose representation has been in touch with the Packers throughout this offseason.

Special teams

Kicker: Anders Carlson (rookie), Parker White

The biggest question: Can Carlson force the Packers say goodbye to Mason Crosby?

What I mean by that is Crosby will be on speed dial (if he remains unsigned) in case these two young kickers crumble under the competition this spring and summer. Carlson tore his ACL in 2021 and wasn’t great last season, making 12 of 17 field goal attemptsd after making 14 of 21 the prior season before the injury to his non-kicking leg. But he’ll get a chance to replace Crosby, who was the last kicker drafted by Green Bay before Carlson on Saturday. Of note: Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia coached Carlson’s brother, Raiders Pro Bowl kicker Daniel Carlson, from 2018 through 2021.

“He’s struggled through some injuries here over the past couple years after a very promising start,” Gutekunst said of Anders Carlson. “So we felt really good about where he was headed, and again, I think the relationship Rich had was a positive factor for us picking him.”

Punter: Pat O’Donnell

The biggest question: Who will he tell old person jokes to with Crosby gone (for now)?

Long snapper: Jack Coco, Matthew Orzech

The biggest question: Will this competition be a “30 for 30” on ESPN someday?

(Photo of Sean Clifford: Matthew OHaren / USA Today)